IQALUIT, Nunavut (July 26, 2019) – Minister of Education, David Joanasie, and President of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA), P.J. Akeeagok, are very proud to announce that new, Nunavut-developed early childhood education resources are being shared with child care facilities across the territory.
“Early childhood Inuktut resources are key to keeping our language alive.” said Minister of Education, David Joanasie. “Children learn better when their learning tools reflect their environment, language and culture. These Nunavut-developed resources will certainly enable our young generations to preserve and strengthen their Inuit identity.”
“I am proud to share these early childhood education resources which reflect our language and culture,” says QIA President, Akeeagok. “These puzzles, toys, and books allow our children to learn, play, and imagine themselves in a world that celebrates our Inuk-identity and mother-tongue.”
QIA and the Department of Education have respectively invested $700,000 and $1.8 million over three years to develop these resources in a fruitful partnership that reflects Inuit life and culture.
The QIA-developed resources will accompany the Department of Education-developed resources which are being distributed to 55 licensed facilities, including afterschool and preschool locations. A number of the resources in the spring package were also developed as part of QIA’s Benefit Fund Program.
